The Truth About No Deposit Bonuses and Wagering Requirements
One thing that we have learned to ask ourselves over time, every time we see a juicy no-deposit bonus, is “What’s the catch?” And it is a valid question because no deposit bonuses, like most bonuses, seem great until you read all the terms and conditions and the words “wagering requirements” in the fine print.
No deposit bonuses seem to offer you free money – or the chance to win money for free if you’re using free spins — because the bonus is available to you even before you fund your account. But then the wagering requirements and other terms kick in, and you realize it isn’t “free” after all.
So is there a way to beat the wagering requirements when you play with a no deposit bonus? Yes, there is! Read on to find out what these tips are. But first, here is a brief look at what the dreaded wagering requirements are, and why players don’t usually favor them.
All About Wagering Requirements
The wagering requirement is a condition that you are required to fulfill before redeeming the winnings from a bonus. It requires you to wager your bonus — or the winnings you earn from it, sometimes taking into account the deposit amount too — a given number of times before redeeming your winnings.
It is the ultimate tool for an online casino operator, because it ensures the casino will never go in the red because of the bonuses it offers. It is usually a multiplier value, so by the time you are done fulfilling it, you would have spent way more money than what you were looking to withdraw.
Here is one example. A casino offers a bonus of $100 with a wagering requirement of 50x. You use this bonus and win $100 with it. To withdraw your winnings, you will need to wager your $100 bonus 50 times, i.e. you will have to wager a total $5000 to be able to withdraw the $100 you won.
Learning how to beat wagering requirements is one thing. But do the tricks of the trade change when playing for no deposit bonuses? This article is here to explain.
Beating Wagering Requirements for a No Deposit Bonus – Is It Possible?
Now that we know what wagering requirements are, two questions spring to mind — do I have to fulfill the wagering requirements, and is there a way to beat the wagering requirements for a no deposit bonus?
You need to fulfill the wagering requirements, because only then will you be able to redeem any of the winnings that you earn with it. Regarding the possibility of beating wagering requirements, in today’s times, the answer is yes; however, it requires steadfast effort and practice and a lot of discipline.
Here are three tips to beat or at least manage the wagering requirements so that they do not become a problem for you when it comes to withdrawing winnings.
Choose the Right No Deposit Bonus
There are many casinos offering no deposit bonuses, which is why it is important to ensure that you choose the right no deposit bonus and so, by extension, the right casino. You choose it by going through the no deposit bonuses at the different casinos on your radar and checking their terms and conditions.
The ideal approach would be to use a no deposit bonus that has the best possible terms and conditions, which includes modest or zero wagering requirements. There is a catch to this usually: The bonus itself may not be the biggest around!
Look at the following example: Slot A offers a no deposit bonus of $50 with a modest wagering requirement of 20x. Slot B, on the other hand, offers a $200 no deposit bonus, but with a wagering requirement of 70x.
What happens then? Even if you score a $50 win on Slot A, the modest wagering requirement means you would have to spend just $1000 ($50 X 20) to fulfill your wagering requirements, but for Slot B you would have to spend $14,000 ($200 X 70). Slot A is definitely a wiser choice!
Choose the Right Game
Choosing the right game to play is important when it comes to beating wagering requirements. This is because different games contribute differently toward wagering requirements fulfillment.
Some games — for example blackjack — may not contribute at all toward the fulfillment of wagering requirements, while others, like slots, usually contribute 100%. The safest options to work with, therefore, when it comes to beating the wagering requirements, are slots.
However, remember to go through the terms and conditions attached to the bonus carefully, because some of the slots may be on the restricted games list and therefore would not contribute toward fulfilling wagering requirements.
Also, there may be a difference in the value of the wagering contribution between two slots.
For instance, Slot A contributes 100% towards the wagering requirements, while Slot B contributes only 85%. This would create a difference in the wagering contribution amount for each game for a $2 bet:
- For Slot A the wagering contribution would be $2.
- For Slot B the wagering contribution would be $1.70.
Choosing the right game is important because it can be the difference between getting through your wagering requirements quickly and your wagering requirements being a headache to fulfill. In the above example, Slot A would be the automatic choice, for obvious reasons.
Settle Down to a Specific Style of Play
When it comes to playing online slots, one thing that most players miss out on is developing a specific style of play. Having a specific style of play may not guarantee you a win always, but it will definitely allow you to figure out the kind of slots to play to fit your style. They could be one of the following:
Low variance slots: These games don’t pay you big wins, but you win frequently so you do have a good cashout over a period of time.
High variance slots: These are good if you adopt the slam-bang style of play. You may not win too frequently but when you do you win big.
Medium variance slots: These are a combination of the above two types. The features are cool and the bonuses good. Together, this means a good shot at beating the odds provided you plan your the style of play — aggressive or passive — perfectly.
Can You Dodge Wagering Requirements?
Strange as it may seem, it is indeed possible to dodge the wagering requirements when playing with a no deposit bonus. All you have to do is zero in on a casino that offers a no deposit bonus with zero wagering requirements! And that is not easy.
No deposit bonuses come with higher wagering requirements because the casino doesn’t charge you anything for using them. Only a few online casinos offer a no deposit bonus with zero wagering requirements; there are of course some that offer modest wagering requirements of up to 15x.
Another way of dodging a wagering requirement for a no deposit bonus is to simply NOT use it. And it is possible to refuse to use a no deposit bonus offer; all you have to do is contact the casino’s support team and inform them that you will not be using the no deposit bonus at all!
